The septuagint and it's origins Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The septuagint and it's origins - Research Paper Example It is significant to note that the Septuagint had its emergence or origin in Alexandria (Hengel 25-27). In addition, it was broadly utilized among the Hellenistic Jews. The Greek translation was conducted because many Jews in the empire started to lose their original Hebrew language. The Letter of Aristeas started that about 72 Jews writers were mandated during the rule of Ptolemy Philadelphus to conduct the work of translation. Therefore, the word Septuagint refers to seventy in Latin Language and the scripture is called so to acknowledge the 72 Jews scholars. It is difficult to tell the exact century and place in which the translation was done but renowned Jews scholars such as Aristobulus who lived in the 2nd century asserted that the description of the policy or law into Greek was finished during the rule of Ptolemy Philadelphus. Due to this, it has been acknowledged that the translation commenced during this time. It is recorded in the letter of the Aristeas that when the transl ation was read in front of the Jewish priests, people and princes in Alexandria who identified and praised the excellent conformity of the translation with the original Hebrew. On the other hand, the widely accepted origin of the Septuagint holds that according to the Pentateuch, the Jews people in the 2nd and 3rd century were many in Egypt, particularly in Alexandria in that at one point, they comprised of the two-fifths of the total population (Abraham 55). Gradually, the Jews people stopped using the Hebrew language and began to forget it, which posed a risk of them forgetting the law. However, it became customary for to explain and interpret the law, which was read in the temple or synagogue, and it was usual that after some time, some people zealous for the policy or law should have commenced to collect and compile a Greek translation of the law or the Pentateuch (Mclay 39-42). This process took place in the middle of the 3rd century. It is important to note that as to the othe r Hebrew Scriptures-the historical and prophetical-it was usual that the Jews living in Alexandria were using the translated law or Pentateuch in their church or liturgical services. In addition, the desire to read the remaining scriptures led to the gradual translation into Greek, which had become their original language. This in turn implied that the Hebrew language was diminishing and dying daily. It is not easy to figure out the exact time in which the translations were made but it can be deduced that Pentateuch or law, historical, prophets and other scriptures or books such as hagiographies existed in Greek as early as the 2nd century. It is also difficult to know the exact number of the translators but it is said that they were seventy or seventy tow as stated in the Brassac-Vigouroux narration. On the other hand, the Talmudists argue that the law or Pentateuch was translated by five people. History offers us no precise figure but the scriptures reveal that the authors were di stinct for different scriptures (Wegner 61-4). Hebrew Bible The Hebrew Bible or book is a word applied to refer to the accepted anthology or collection of Jewish scripture that are the common source of the Old Testament scriptures. These books are